Actor. A New York City native of Irish stock, he made his film debut in 1932 after much stage experience. For years he was one of Hollywood's go-to guys for roles as urban street cops, which he delivered with a bemused lip and colorful brogue. Burke was W.C. Fields' nemesis in several comedies, and in Columbia's "Ellery Queen" series of the early 1940s he played Sgt. Velle, who wished that detective Queen (Ralph Bellamy) would mind his own business. In the occasional costume or adventure picture, such as "The Scarlet Empress" (1934), "Treasure Island" (1934), and "Beau Geste" (1939), he was seen as a guard or military man. His other films include "Tillie and Gus" (1933), "It's a Gift" (1934), "Twentieth Century" (1934), "It Happened One Night" (1934), "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935), "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" (1935), "Dead End" (1937), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), "Body and Soul" (1947), and "The Big Clock" (1948). Burke later worked in television, until his retirement at 80.
Actor. A New York City native of Irish stock, he made his film debut in 1932 after much stage experience. For years he was one of Hollywood's go-to guys for roles as urban street cops, which he delivered with a bemused lip and colorful brogue. Burke was W.C. Fields' nemesis in several comedies, and in Columbia's "Ellery Queen" series of the early 1940s he played Sgt. Velle, who wished that detective Queen (Ralph Bellamy) would mind his own business. In the occasional costume or adventure picture, such as "The Scarlet Empress" (1934), "Treasure Island" (1934), and "Beau Geste" (1939), he was seen as a guard or military man. His other films include "Tillie and Gus" (1933), "It's a Gift" (1934), "Twentieth Century" (1934), "It Happened One Night" (1934), "Ruggles of Red Gap" (1935), "The Man on the Flying Trapeze" (1935), "Dead End" (1937), "You Can't Take It With You" (1938), "The Maltese Falcon" (1941), "Anchors Aweigh" (1945), "Body and Soul" (1947), and "The Big Clock" (1948). Burke later worked in television, until his retirement at 80.
Bio by: Bobb Edwards
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